Fantasy football

Playoff key may sit on your bench

By GREG AUMAN
Published December 13, 2005

At this point, if you're still playing meaningful fantasy football games - there's a silly phrase if there ever was one - you're probably not looking over the waiver-wire possibilities.

You can, however, identify and start the ridiculously hot hand who might be on your bench and ride dumb luck to playoff glory.

Last year, many a jackpot was won on a mind-numbing three-game stretch by Titans receiver Drew Bennett , who had eight touchdowns and 517 yards from Weeks 13-15. (Me, I waited to grab Bennett until this year, when he has had 551 yards and one touchdown all season.)

This year's Bennett? They don't come hotter than Dolphins receiver Chris Chambers , who had zero 100-yard efforts in Miami's first 10 games. He has since reeled off three straight, including a 15-catch, 238-yard showing Dec. 4 and a 121-yard, two-touchdown follow-up Sunday.

Chambers faces a Jets defense this weekend that has allowed the third-fewest passing touchdowns in the league (10), but after that he gets Tennessee, which entered the week with a league-high 25 passing scores allowed.

One quarterback I wouldn't want to face - if my teams were still alive, that is - is Seattle's Matt Hasselbeck , who finally is prying some touchdowns away from Shaun Alexander . Hasselbeck threw for four scores Sunday on 21-of-25 passing, and Seattle has won its past two by 80 points.

Seattle gets that same porous Titans defense this weekend, then has a Christmas Eve shootout at home against Indianapolis - all those '72 Dolphins will have Hasselbeck starting, for sure - so I like his numbers from here on.

LATE BLOOMERS: This season has been bereft of rookies with fantasy impact, save Bucs running back Cadillac Williams and Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller . But two rookie running backs stepped up Sunday for their first big games and could be worth a spot start if you need a last-minute fill-in.

With the Jets' Curtis Martin out for the season, Cedric Houston had 28 carries in Sunday's win against the Raiders, getting 74 yards and a touchdown. With Derrick Blaylock nursing an ankle injury, Houston is a nice pickup as the Jets' only healthy running option.

Philadelphia hasn't had a running game all season, so Ryan Moats ' 114 yards and two touchdowns Sunday were impressive. Brian Westbrook rushed for three scores before his season-ending foot injury, and with the Eagles out of playoff contention, they'll continue to evaluate Moats.

GADO MIGHTY: We've gotten a couple of e-mail thank yous for touting Packers rookie Sam Gado in Week 9, but we really didn't expect the kind of success he has had filling in.

Gado had 29 carries for 171 yards and a touchdown Sunday, giving him touchdowns in five of his past six games, with three 100-yard efforts. For a comparison, Ahman Green had four 100-yard games last season and scored in four of 16 games.

The Packers have tough defenses ahead in Baltimore and Chicago, but expect 20-plus carries from Gado each week.

THIS AND THAT: One more rookie making a late splash? Ravens receiver Mark Clayton has had two straight seven-catch games, including 105 yards with a touchdown Sunday. Not that anyone should be jumping on the Ravens offense. ... How good has Indy's Marvin Harrison been? With 137 yards and two touchdowns Sunday, he has four 100-yard efforts in his past six games. He has had at least 10 touchdowns in seven straight seasons. Just be careful to see if the Colts rest their veteran starters down the stretch. ... Surely, you stopped starting the Bucs' Michael Clayton long ago, but aside from a few injured players, you likely won't find another receiver drafted in your league who doesn't have a TD.

--Times staff writer Greg Auman writes a weekly fantasy football column. Have a lineup question or a comment? E-mail him at auman@sptimes.com

[Last modified December 13, 2005, 04:12:57]